Stuffed toy utilizing replaceable heating packs

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a stuffed toy, such as a teddy bear, using a heating pack to produce a warmth within the toy. When a child wants their parents to hold them, the parents can not always be there. Many children have developed attractions to stuffed animals to provide comfort and reassurance. The stuffed animals are typically not warm, like when the parents hold them. When given a warm stuffed animal, the child will feel more secure and comforted.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a stuffed toy, such as a teddy bear,using a heating pack to produce a warmth within the toy. When a childwants their parents to hold them, the parents can not always be there.Many children have developed attractions to stuffed animals to providecomfort and reassurance. The stuffed animals are typically not warm,like when the parents hold them. When given a warm stuffed animal, thechild will feel more secure and comforted.

Similar patents have issued for electrical heating packs or otherwarming means for stuffed animals. U.S. Pat. No. 4,979,923 to Tanaka andU.S. Pat. No. 7,241,196 to Niklibore disclose stuffed animals usingbattery packs for providing heating inside a stuffed animal. Thebatteries can be heavy and dangerous. They require charging and havesome possibility of electrical shock.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention provides a stuffed animal that can be warmed withoutbatteries or electricity. A heat pack is received inside the stuffedanimal to produce a warm, soft feeling for someone holding the stuffedanimal.

The warm stuffed animal maybe used for comfort or for warmth. At a fallfootball game, the warm stuffed animals could be sold to children tokeep their hands warm while outside. Logos and names of the footballteams could be printed on the animals, or on clothing on the animals.

The present invention utilizes a disposable warming pack within thestuffed animals. The packs do not get too hot, such that they would burna child's fingers.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of an embodiment of the invention using a teddybear.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of an embodiment of the invention using a teddybear.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of an embodiment of the invention showing awarming pack insertion into the stuffed animal.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention provides a stuffed animal with a disposable warming packto give a warmth to the surface of the stuffed animal. As shown in FIG.1, the stuffed animal 1 maybe a commonly a teddy bear, but could be inthe shape of other animals or designs. Bears are the most popularstuffed animals. The modification to the stuffed animal 1 is seen inFIG. 2, where the stuffed animal 1 includes a pocket storage area withinthe body of the stuffed animal 1. A closure 2 for the pocket storagearea is used to secure a warming pack 4 inside the pocket storage area.The closure 2 is preferably a hook and loop fastener, but may be azipper, buttons, snaps, or other means of holding the closure 2 in aclosed position. The hook and loop fastener method has been found to besuitable and difficult for small children to open the closure 2.Clothing on the stuffed animal 1 can also be added to help preventaccidental or undesirable access to the warming pack 4 by small childrenor other users.

The clothing can also be used to provide advertising, sporting teams, orother indicia. To prevent thermal isolation of the warming pack, theclothing is preferably relatively small and thin, as it is desirable forthe warmth of the warming pack to reach the surface for contact with theuser.

A warming pack 4 may be inserted into the pocket storage area throughthe closure 2. The warming pack of the invention is a disposable warmthpack using an iron oxidation process. The disposable packs are availablein varying sizes and shapes and are often sold for hand warming. Oneproduct found to be suitable is the HEAT TREAT MYCOAL MEGA WARMERdistributed by GRABBER. The pack contains iron, water, cellulose,vermiculite, activated carbon and salt. When opened, the exposure to aircauses a iron to oxidize and the reaction produces heat energy. Whenused properly, the result is a steady heat that does not get too hotthat it causes burns, and has no need for electricity or other sourcesof heat. The warming pack may disposed of when the reaction iscompleted. Larger warming packs can produce heat for longer periods. Newwarming packs may be inserted into the stuffed animal to restart thewarming feature with no loss of function.

It will be readily understood by those persons skilled in the art, thatthe present invention is susceptible to broad utility and application inwarming stuffed animals. Many embodiments and adaptations of the presentinvention, other than those described, as well as many variations,modifications, and equivalent arrangements, will be apparent from orreasonably suggested by the present invention and foregoing descriptionthereof, without departing from the substance or scope of the invention.

While the foregoing description illustrates and describes exemplaryembodiments of this invention, it is to be understood that the inventionis not limited to the construction and design disclosed herein. Theinvention can be embodied in other specific forms without departing fromthe true invention.

1. A warming stuffed animal comprising: a stuffed animal; a chamberlocated within said stuffed animal; a disposable heating pack capable ofbeing inserted into said chamber.
 2. The warming stuffed animal of claim1, wherein the stuffed animal further comprises a main body, a headportion, and at least two leg portions extending from the main body. 3.The warming stuffed animal of claim 2, wherein the disposable heatingpack contains iron and when exposed to air, the iron oxidizes resultingin expelled heat.